Joe Sheridan (1909-1962) was an Irish chef, universally recognized as the inventor of Irish Coffee. During the 1940s, he worked as head chef at the restaurant in the Foynes flying boat terminal, County Limerick. On a cold winter night in 1943, to comfort the passengers of a flight forced to turn back due to bad weather, Sheridan created an improvised drink. He mixed hot coffee with Irish whiskey and sugar, topping it with a layer of lightly whipped cream. The drink became an immediate success and a symbol of Irish hospitality. Its fame grew internationally when journalist Stanton Delaplane discovered it and brought the recipe to the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco. Although his career took place mainly in Foynes and later at the new Shannon Airport, his main and enduring recognition remains the creation of one of the most celebrated and appreciated coffee-based drinks in the world.